Prong binder



'S 1929 G. P. WIGGINTON PRONG BINDER Filed Feb. 14, 1927 2 Slants-Sheet aaaaaa 1r Rm w mm N R WW M Feb. "5, 1929. a V MGGMTON 1,701,090

PRONG BINDER Filed Feb 14. 1927 2 Shee'tsSheet 2 INVENTOR V Geo r fe Z ginfon 1% A TTORNLVS Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,701,000 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. WIGGINTON, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSION- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE.

PRONG BINDER.

Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,009.,

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved loose leaf binder of the prong type which may be manipulated to lock the prong-carrying members either in closed position or in partially open position.

A further object is to provide an improved prong binder having these advantages which is capable of rapid and easy manipulation to accomplish the results indicated.

Objects pertaining to details of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is clearly dofined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 0

Fig. 1 is a detail section through a binder embodying the features of my invention on a line corresponding to linel- -l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the back mechanism or metals, as they are called, the covers and binding being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front View of the parts shown in Fig. 2 with the binder partially open.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary section on a line corresponding to line 4.4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section with the binder open.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back member locking and supporting means.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated I provide a pair of chambered back members 1 and 2, preferably formed of sheet metal and having forwardly projecting flanges 3 at their outer edges. These back members are hinged together at l, the hinges being at the rear adjacent corners so that the back members may be closed with their inner walls lying side by side as shown in Fig. 1, or the bin der may be opened as shown in Fig. 5 to permitthe sheets indicated at 5 to be placed upon. or removed from the curved binding prongs 6.

These binding prongs are mounted upon the flanges in alternating relation so that when the binder is closed they he as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The covers 7 are hinged at 8 to the edges of the flanges 3. A binding or covering 9 is provided for the back members having a flexible portion 10 extending across the back of the binder. The back members have registering holes 11 in their adjacent sides through which the latches 12 and 13 project when the binder 1S closed. These latches 12 and 13 are mounted on pivots 14: within one of thebinding members to project through the holes 11 therein, the latch 12 having a hook-like de tent 15 engaging with the wall of the back member into which it projectswhen the binders are closed. The latch 13 has a detent lug 16 engaging the same wall when the binder is closed, see Fig. 4, and it also has a notch 17 which engages the edge of the opening through which it projects when the binder is partially opened as shown in Fig. 3, thereby supporting the back members" .in an oppositely inclined partially open position, leaving the prongs in overlappmg relation as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement the sheets may be shifted back and'forth from one set of prongs to the other and at the sametime the sheets lie upon the covers in such position that they are available for writing and for full inspection.

When the binder is opened as shown in Fig. 5 the sheets may be removed from the prongs. These latches are simultaneously released by means of the operating bar 18 which is slidably mounted in the end walls of the back member 2 and provided with a finger piece 19 at one end. The opposite end is reduced to form a shoulder 20 with which the spring 21 arranged on the reduced end engages, the spring acting to yieldingly hold the latches in engagement and to automatically engage them when the binding members are fully closed or shifted to the partially open position.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical, the same being an adaptation of and an improvement upon the structure shown in the Strubing and Scherzinger application, Serial No. 100,251, filed April 7, 1926, for prong binders. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments and adaptations which I contemplate as I believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a binder, the combination of a pair of chambered back members disposed side by side and hingedly connected at their adjacent rear edges, each back member being provided with inwardly curved binding prongs, the adjacent walls of said back members having registering openings therein, a plurality of latchespivotally mounted within the chamber of one back member to project through the openings therein and into the opening of the other back member, at least one oi said latches being provided with plurality of detent lugs adapted to coact with an edge of the opening in the other back member, whereby the back members may be held releasably in closed position or in an outwardly inclined relation relative to each other, and an operating bar slidably mounted within one of said members and having pin and slot connections to said latches.

2. In a binder, the combination of a pair of chambered back members disposed side by side and hingedly connected at their adjacent rear edges, each back member being provided wit-h inwardly curved binding prongs, the adjacent walls of said back members having registering openings therein, and a latch pivotally mounted within the chamber of one back member to project through the opening therein and into the opening of the other back member, said latch being provided with a plurality of detent lugs adapted to coact with an edge of the opening in the other back member, whereby the back members may be held releasably in closed position or in an outwardly inclined relation relative to'each other.

3. I11 a hinder, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected back members, each provided with forwardly projecting flanges at their outer edges, curved binding prongs mounted on said flanges, said back members being chambered and provided with opposed openings in their adjacent sides, and a curved latch pivotally mounted in one of said back members to project through the opening therein and into the opening in the adjacent back member, said latch being provided with a detent coa'cting with an edge Of the opening into which the latch projects for holding the members in closed position and with a notch adapted to engage with the edge of the opening to hold the back members in partially open position.

4. In a binder, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected back members provided with binding prongs, said back members being chambered and provided with opposed openings in their adjacent sides, and a curved latch pivotally mounted in one of said. back members to project through the opening therein and into the opening in the adjacent back member, said latch being provided with a detent eoacting with an edge of the opening into which the latch projects for holding the members in closed position and with a notch adapted to engage with the edge of the opening to hold the back members in partially open position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE P. WIGGINTON. 

